Vandals Target TCN Towers once more, Cutting off Abuja’s Power Supply.

Another instance of vandalism on the 330kV Lokoja–Gwagwalada transmission line has been reported by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), causing an interruption in the supply of energy to Abuja.

Three transmission towers were impacted by the attack, which happened in the early hours of November 9, according to a statement issued by TCN on Sunday.

According to the statement, on Saturday morning, TCN engineers made an effort to re-energise the Lokoja–Gwagwalada transmission line.

However, a group of linesmen was sent to examine the infrastructure following several unsuccessful attempts to restore power.

Following an inquiry, investigators found that vandals had stolen two spans of aluminium conductor and damaged transmission towers T306, T307, and T308, disrupting bulk power transmission along the line.

Although TCN is still providing power via a backup line, work is being done to acquire new conductors so that the damaged line can be completely restored.

With prior attacks on adjacent lines, such as the Gwagwalada–Kukuwaba–Apo transmission line in December 2023 and the Gwagwalada–Katampe line in February 2024, this incident is part of a concerning trend of vandalism harming the nation’s electricity infrastructure.

The rising frequency of these attacks has raised concerns for TCN, as they represent a serious threat to the stability and growth of Nigeria’s national grid.

The business stressed that damage to power facilities impedes the country’s efforts to establish a stable and dependable transmission system and urged local communities to work with security officials to stop any vandalism.